Noel, the idea that you know what you're getting is simply a myth. Do you propose typing the genome of your prospective puppy, and predicting every single event in its life? No? Well then you don't know what you're going to get.

Re-homing centres are full to bursting with dogs from people who thought they knew what they were getting, and they can 'train it how they like'. Those with 'mental scarring' (which clinically doesn't exist) or any behaviour issues are in the minority, or transient and caused by kennelling. If you aren't savvy enough to train any ordinary dog, you certainly won't have the skills to do an adequate job with a puppy. A dog doesn't know whether its a 'rescue' dog or not, it just knows its a dog and behaves like a dog- simple.

As i said earlier, i've never heard of any special requirements which can't be met by rehoming a dog. If you hanker after a particular breed (though why someone wants a clone of everyone else's dog i'm not sure) there is a book of rehoming societies for every breed.

As for my endgame? Well, i'm splitting my sides at that... Seriously, i don't have one.. i just do what i can for dog welfare, while trying not to get so down about it that i become one of the statistics of the veterinary profession- 7 times the national suicide rate (11 times for female vets in their 20s and 30s).